Jul 22, 2014

West Palm Beach Office Closes

If you need to get anything done at the West Palm Beach branch of the
local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, you might have to go
elsewhere for services.

It's the latest twist in an ongoing CBS
12 News investigation that began after we exposed long wait times at the
West Palm Beach office.

An SSA spokesperson says the SSA is
scaling back services at this branch because of recurring maintenance
and HVAC issues with the building. ...

CBS-12 News first began investigating issues at the West Palm Beach SSA
last week after folks told us they were being forced to wait two, three,
and sometimes four hours in the hot sun and rain.

After U.S.
Members of Congress who learned of our story demanded the SSA address
the issue of long wait times, the office suddenly closed Thursday then
reopened.

The SSA tells us they're looking to relocate the West Palm Beach office.

CBS-12
has learned that some staff members are suing the buildings' owner
Carnegie Management & Development Corp and alleging the building is
making them sick.

OK, if it was ventilation problems that closed the office, why was it that the closure happened almost immediately after a TV station broadcast pictures of lines of people waiting outside the office? Also, why did it take the agency so long to tell the TV station why the office was closed?